Prosecutors in Missouri are alleging that a mother was murdered this month after being kidnapped by two men who forced her to withdraw money from her bank account.
Michelle Hampton, a mother to a teenage daughter, was taken from her home in Clayton, Missouri, on November 20. Tragically, she was later discovered dead in an alley in St. Louis, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to a statement from federal prosecutors.
During her kidnapping, the two men brought her to a bank, demanding that she withdraw $10,000. However, bank staff refused this amount, and she was only able to take out $2,000.
Police have since arrested two suspects in connection with the case. Anjuan Q. Mosby, 43, has been charged with kidnapping that led to death, a charge that could result in the death penalty if he is found guilty. Notably, Mosby is the boyfriend of Hampton’s twin sister, Samantha.
The second suspect, Emmanuel Suarez, 36, was arrested shortly after Mosby and has been charged with felony weapon possession, which carries a potential 15-year prison sentence.
Both men face several state-level charges, including first-degree murder, robbery, and kidnapping. Court records show they each have a long history of criminal activity dating back several years.
A lawyer representing Mosby did not provide comments on the case, and information on a lawyer for Suarez is not currently available.
On the morning of the kidnapping, Samantha reportedly saw her sister being held at gunpoint in her own car. Attempts to follow them ended dangerously when another vehicle tried to run Samantha off the road while shooting at her and her child.
According to court documents, Mosby allegedly gave Hampton a chance to escape but shot her when she did not take it.
A federal judge has ordered Mosby to be held without bail, and prosecutors are also pushing for no bail for Suarez.
Hampton is being remembered by her family as a loving person who dedicated her life to her teenage daughter and her three nephews. Her sister described her as selfless and deserving of much more than the tragedy that unfolded. The family has set up a fund to help with funeral costs and the care of her children, raising $14,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.
